Scores of Israeli settlers and Jewish students broke into al-Aqsa Mosque on Monday from al-Maghareba Gate under heavy police presence to celebrate the second day of Shavuot Holiday.
Meanwhile the Israeli police have tightened the security measures imposed on Palestinian worshipers visiting al-Aqsa Mosque since the beginning of Ramadan.
The police have also stepped up their arrest campaigns and expulsion policies targeting al-Aqsa guards and staff in an attempt to limit the Islamic Awqaf administration of the Mosque.
According to the public relations and media official at the Islamic Awqaf department Feras al-Dibs 184 Israeli settlers including 30 Jewish students broke into al-Aqsa Mosque in the morning hours and conducted provocative tours in its courtyards before they left through al-Silsila Gate.
Al-Dibs said that the settlers performed Talmudic rituals and received some presentations on the alleged “Temple Mount” during the incursion.
The Israeli police opened al-Maghareba Gate at 7:30 am deployed their forces in al-Aqsa courtyards to secure the settler break-in and closed the Gate after the morning incursion ended at 11:00 am.
About 284 Israeli settlers visited al-Aqsa Mosque on Sunday to celebrate Shavuot Holiday.
The Israeli settlers on a daily basis organize tours into al-Aqsa Mosque in two rounds: in the morning and in the afternoon. Break-ins are usually intensified during Jewish holidays.
